The Nigeria-based extremist group
Boko Haram on Monday threatened neighbouring countries Niger and Chad, warning
the fighters were prepared to carry out suicide bombings in the countries
sending troops to help fight the militants.

In a translation published by the
SITE Intelligence Group, Boko Haram sharply criticized Niger for joining the
effort and said the country was being dragged into a ``swamp of darkness.''
Over the last 10 days, Boko Haram fighters have repeatedly struck the town of
Diffa but not the capital.

``If you insist on continuing the
aggression and the coalition with the government of Chad, then we give you glad
tidings that the land of Niger is easier than the land of Nigeria and moving
the war to the depth of your cities will be the first reaction toward any
aggression that occurs after this statement,'' it said, according to SITE's
transcript.

A multinational force to fight
Boko Haram is expected to be formally launched in coming weeks. Chad, Cameroon,
Niger and Benin initially pledged to help Nigeria. On Monday, Burundi and Central
African Republic also agreed to contribute troops to fight the militant group.

The Islamic extremist group has
fought a five-year insurgency against Nigeria's government, leaving 10,000
people dead last year alone. The violence has forced some 157,000 people to
seek refuge in Niger, while 40,000 others have gone to Cameroon and 17,000 are
in Chad, the U.N. said. Almost 1 million Nigerians are internally displaced,
according to the country's own statistics.

On Monday, leaders in Central
Africa said that 10 member states had agreed to contribute most of the $100
million needed to combat Boko Haram. They did not state how much had been
raised nor how much is remaining despite calling for the creation of an
emergency fund to bridge the difference.

Nigeria's military said on Monday that at least 150 people had been killed in clashes with Islamists in the northeastern town of Baga, giving a rare official death toll a few weeks before presidential elections in which security is a big issue.

Defence spokesman Major-General Chris Olukolade was reacting to reports that some 2,000 had been killed by Boko Haram insurgents who took control of Baga and the surrounding area 10 days ago. The military is fighting to reclaim it.

Scores of civilians were killed when the militants, who are fighting to establish an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, raided Baga and a nearby military base. The base is also the headquarters of a multinational force with troops from Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

Witnesses who escaped to neighbouring towns and Borno state capital Maiduguri said the insurgents razed buildings and homes and killed dozens of civilians in subsequent raids last week. Thousands of refugees have fled Baga to neighbouring Chad or been displaced within Nigeria.

Boko Haram has killed thousands in a five-year-old rebellion which is seen as the biggest security threat to Africa's top oil producer and is a headache for President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of what is likely to be a closely fought vote on February 14. A southern Christian, he faces Muhammadu Buhari, a northern Muslim and former military ruler regarded as tough on security.

Nigeria's military said on Monday that at least 150 people had been killed in clashes with Islamists in the northeastern town of Baga, giving a rare official death toll a few weeks before presidential elections in which security is a big issue.

The Nigeria-based extremist group
Boko Haram on Monday threatened neighbouring countries Niger and Chad, warning
the fighters were prepared to carry out suicide bombings in the countries
sending troops to help fight the militants.